Love and Justice (2)
Matthew 6:9-13
In the Armenian sermon we were talking about Jesus calling God “Abba”
meaning Daddy. When Dr. K. Bailey was
teaching this topic in
Some have a problem
addressing God as a Father. Some do have bad childhood experiences with
their fathers. It was very difficult to speak about the role of a father and
mother at the Ainjar boarding school to children who did not have good parents.
I used to lead worship services for children who came
from broken families who did not have a positive role model for any of the father
or the mother. Yet they needed someone to fill the gap that their parents left
in their lives. For these kids, sometimes a big brother, a relative, or an
uncle was the “father” figure in their lives. What I
mean is that we all need a “father” role in our lives. This does not mean God can
only reveal Himself in the male gender. God is Spirit. We use anthropomorphic
language do describe God. Let us not put God is one box. God reveals Himself to
us in many ways. God can reveal Himself in the burning bush, in the wind, the
sound, or the clouds. There are male and female attributes of God and that is
not my topic today. But we
need to understand why Jesus used the word Father. I will
address God as Father as Jesus addressed. Jesus had a reason to describe God as a Father.
The Father has two important roles.
On one side of the coin God the Father is security and authority,
and on the other side of the coin God is Daddy, Abba,
hayrig, a loving and intimate father.
Let me
illustrate this point by going further. Jesus continued saying, “Our father who
is in heaven.”
He is reminding the disciples
and us today that the same Father, Daddy is in Heaven. Yes, although we
are talking about Abba, but do not forget that He is a transcendent
God. He is with you like a Daddy; also, He is away as the father figure who
is in control of everything.
Jesus is reminding us:
-Remember you are created and He is the Creator.
-He is your Father and you
are the child.
-Remember you are servant and
He is the master.
-Remember you are in this
earth, the finite earth and He is an eternal God.
In fact, this is the mystery of
incarnation. Jesus represents the same concept; God is appearing among us
in our finite form to tell us God is an intimate God yet He is transcendent; He
is in Heaven and He is the source of authority and security.
The next point is Let it
be hallowed your name, Let you name be Holy (Remember this is the Aramaic order
of words).
God is Holy. Are we asking Him
be more holy?
I mean the table is a table, the water is water. Can
you ask the table to be a table more and more?
God
is the most Holy Being that can ever exist. What is Jesus trying to say?
The form of the verb is called “divine passive.”
The Israelites were cautious
in using the name of God. Whenever they wanted to pronounce the word Yahweh,
they would say Adonai.
In the beatitudes for example,
“Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for
righteousness, for they will be filled.” In both cases, God will
comfort them, God will fill them. God’s name is
not there, but it is used in the passive form, we call
it “divine passive.”
God is the actor in this case also. He will act
to bring Holiness to this earth. He is Holy. We can ask Him, bring your holiness to this earth, to us.
The next issue is the name. Let
His name be holy.
Names in the Middle Eastern
culture are very important. Names in biblical stories represent the identity
and character of that person.
Moses was confused when he
heard God’s voice in the burning bush and asked, “Who are you? What is your
name?” It comes from the idea that there are many spirits, gods floating
around. “Let me have your name. I want to know you.”
Names also represent
character. Jacob’s name meant liar, Peter meant rock. How about names of
God: El Shaddai - the mighty God, El Roi - the God who sees. El Rope -God who
heals.
Therefore, we are asking God,
“Manifest your Holy name in this earth, in my life, in your life; enhance your
reputation in this dark world which needs your holy presence.”
-Also we are asking God to demonstrate his Holiness
in our finite life.
The best example is Isaiah’s
vision about seeing and experiencing the holy God.
In Isaiah 6, we read that the prophet saw the angels
cherubim and seraphim in a magnificent vision as they were saying “Holy,
Holy, Holy.” In their presence, Isaiah felt very unclean.
-This is true. Once I wanted to paint the door of a classroom in the school where
I used to serve. After painting one door, I realized how
dirty the wall next to it was.
-Isaiah was in the
presence of the Lord. God is holy; God is just and righteous. Isaiah saw
his sinful and unclean life.
God acted in bringing
holiness to Isaiah’s mouth. His mouth was burned by a coal from the alter to clean him. Then the Lord asked whom He should
send. Isaiah was ready to serve. He experienced God’s holiness in his life.
We are asking God, “Bring
your holiness, your holy character, your holy presence in our “dirty” life.”
God is holy, God is just
and righteous. Here is the dilemma.
On one hand, God is Holy,
just and righteous. On the other hand, God is love and merciful and forgiving. How
can these two come together?
This dilemma was solved on the cross. Jesus paid the price of our sin. Through him, we are restored and justified. Through him, we are forgiven and the ransom was paid. Through him, we also saw
God’s love and mercy. In Jesus this two come together.
My title is Love and Justice. The two came side by side in God through Jesus Christ
our Lord. Therefore, when we pray, “Let you name be Holy,” we are asking that His
holy presence be demonstrated in our lives. We are
asking Him to transform our life daily to a Christlike
life.
In summary, we find two contrasts:
God is a Daddy and God is
in heaven- He is our security and authority.
God is
Love and God is holy, just and righteous.
In the first century, the
Lord’s Prayer was prayed after the new visitors left the church. In the beginning on church
history, many were not converted to Christianity. Every
Sunday new visitors came to hear about Jesus. Some became Christians and stayed
and others left. Whoever stayed, recited this prayer. Why?
Because
in this prayer you are talking to your Daddy.
Is God your Daddy? Do you
have personal relationship with Him?
Do you have an intimate
relationship with your God?
Many of
your say this prayer. Do you
believe in what are you saying?
Amen